To Brexit or not to Brexit

I can see Boris Johnson's plan of action quite clearly now, in amongst all the resignations, lost votes and general flying of dust and feathers.

We'll leave the EU on 31st October, come hell or high water, according to Mr Johnson. Last week, Parliament passed a Bill to forbid Brexit without a deal. The determining date for that is October 19th. No new deal could possibly be cobbled together in just six weeks, and he knows it. Hence Amber Rudd's complaint that only 10-20% of government activity on Brexit goes into a new deal, and 80-90% into no-deal.

Parliament will be prorogued (suspended) no later than Thursday (12th), most likely Tuesday (10th) until October 14th. A European summit will convene on October 17th and 18th, and no deal will be in place. So, Boris Johnson should obey the law, by revolking Article 50 (having asked the EU for permission at that summit on the 17th/18th) and thereby cancelling Brexit. Because otherwise, there being no deal in place upon exiting the European Union on October 31st, he would break the law.

If revoking Article 50 is the outcome, then Mr Johnson will report to Parliament that he intends to do that - in order to obey the law. As Parliament itself has set out.

He could chance that by allowing the default option by running down the clock to October 31st - thereby fulfilling his promise to the people of the UK to exit the EU on that day. And after that, it's "après moi le déluge".